Public Services and Procurement Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Institutional Links

 

Important notice

Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.

For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!

Search Canada.ca
To begin your search, go to the alphabetical index below and click on the first letter of the word you are searching for.

illegal, illicit, unlawful

Illegal, illicit and unlawful mean “contrary to or outside the law.”

  • Impaired driving is illegal in Canada.
  • Has the opening of casinos discouraged illicit gambling?
  • If you do something unlawful, you may have to face the legal consequences.

Illicit further conveys the meaning of moral disapproval, actions contrary to custom, or secrecy.

  • She was condemned in the media for having an illicit love affair while she was in office.
  • June 26 is both International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.